“The Assassination of Jeff German”: 48 Hours Reports March 8 2025

CBS’s 48 Hours is set to air an encore presentation of The Assassination of Jeff German on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The episode revisits the brutal killing of Las Vegas investigative journalist Jeff German, who was found stabbed outside his home in September 2022. Known for his relentless reporting on corruption, crime, and misconduct, German’s work had uncovered troubling allegations against Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles. Just days after German’s death, Telles was arrested and later convicted of murder. The episode provides a deep dive into the events leading to the crime, the investigation, and the legal battle that followed.

Jeff German: A Career Built on Exposing Corruption

Jeff German spent over four decades as a journalist, primarily covering crime, politics, and organized crime in Las Vegas. He wrote for the Las Vegas Sun for more than 20 years before joining the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2010. His investigative work brought him into direct conflict with some of the most powerful and dangerous figures in Nevada, including mobsters and corrupt public officials.

German was known for his fearless approach to journalism. He was the first to report on the MGM Grand fire of 1980, covered high-profile bribery scandals, and co-authored investigations into mafia-related crimes. In 2001, he published Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss, a true-crime book about Ted Binion’s mysterious death. His final investigations focused on governmental corruption, particularly the toxic work environment within the Clark County Public Administrator’s Office under Robert Telles.

Investigating Robert Telles: Allegations of Abuse and Misconduct

In early 2022, German began receiving reports from employees of the Clark County Public Administrator’s Office about a hostile work environment under Robert Telles. Four women—Rita Reid, Aleisha Goodwin, Jessica Coleman, and Noraine Pagdanganan—approached German with serious allegations. They claimed that Telles was verbally abusive, engaged in intimidation tactics, and maintained an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, Roberta Lee-Kennett.

The women provided German with covertly recorded video evidence of Telles and Lee-Kennett meeting privately in the back seat of a car, behavior they believed confirmed their suspicions of favoritism and misconduct. German’s exposé on Telles, published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, detailed a toxic workplace, alleged harassment, and an improper relationship that had created turmoil in the office. The fallout from the reporting contributed to Telles’ defeat in the June 2022 Democratic primary, ending his bid for re-election.

The Murder of Jeff German: A Shocking Crime

On September 2, 2022, German was brutally attacked outside his home in Las Vegas. Surveillance footage captured an individual wearing an orange construction vest and a large straw hat lurking near German’s residence before the attack. German was stabbed seven times, suffering fatal wounds to his neck and torso. His body was discovered the following day by a neighbor.

The violent nature of the crime suggested a personal motive. Investigators quickly identified a suspect based on surveillance footage, which showed the assailant driving a maroon GMC Yukon Denali—matching a vehicle registered to Telles’ wife. A forensic search of the crime scene yielded DNA evidence under German’s fingernails, later confirmed to belong to Telles.

The Arrest and Trial of Robert Telles

On September 7, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Telles’ home. Inside, they discovered a cut-up straw hat and blood-stained shoes, items resembling those seen in surveillance footage of the attacker. Telles was taken into custody and charged with murder.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, including DNA matches and video surveillance, Telles pleaded not guilty. He maintained that he had been framed and that the physical evidence had been planted. His defense team attempted to discredit the investigation, but prosecutors presented a compelling case, including security footage showing Telles’ vehicle near German’s home at the time of the murder.

In August 2024, after a two-week trial, a jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. In October 2024, a judge imposed additional sentencing enhancements, adding eight to 20 years for the use of a deadly weapon and for German being over 60 years old at the time of his murder.

The Legacy of Jeff German

The murder of Jeff German was met with widespread condemnation, particularly from press freedom organizations and the journalism community. UNESCO added his name to its Observatory of Killed Journalists, emphasizing the dangers investigative reporters face in exposing corruption.

Following German’s death, his colleagues at the Las Vegas Review-Journal continued his unfinished investigations, ensuring that the stories he was working on saw the light of day. Additionally, the newspaper fought a legal battle to protect German’s sources from law enforcement scrutiny, securing a precedent-setting ruling that protects journalistic confidentiality even after a reporter’s death.

German’s legacy remains one of courage and determination. His work led to accountability in public office and exposed corruption at the highest levels. Though his life was cut short, his impact on investigative journalism endures.